It's that time of year again, when our streets will be crowded by gleeful students who won't have to wear a uniform for the next month or two.

Of course, the Secondary 4 students are still in the midst of their O-level examinations. I've always told my students that they are likely to do better than they think. The bell curve by which they will be graded is an international one, and we are very privileged to be in a country of high literacy and education.

Now, I am no fan of examinations. I haven't been since I was a student myself. I've always felt that they sap the joy of learning. That said, we can't abolish all examinations since they still perform their function of helping us to separate students into their affinities. It's not a perfect system, but it's one that is familiar and does work somewhat.